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Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews? Crow Lake. It came out a few years ago and everyone on my Yahoo! book lists were just raving about it. I bought it. I looked at it sitting on my shelf. I looked at it for probably 3 years. Then I finally mooched it off on someone; I just couldn’t do it. No idea why.
If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be? Well, I like the idea of a world cruise! So we’ll go with that. As for who…I’d say Hermione Granger because she is just awesome, Mr. Darcy because he is just hot, and Miracle Max, because he is my favorite character from The Princess Bride.
(Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): you are told you can’t die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave? Ulysses by James Joyce.
Come on, we’ve all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it? Hmm…I’m not sure. I’m not one to say I’ve read something when I haven’t. Although there is something in the back of my mind about having to read Shakespeare for a college class and getting out the ole Cliff’s Notes instead. I just can’t remember which play it was.
As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to ‘reread’ it that you haven’t? Which book? The only thing I can think of (cause I tend to remember what I’ve read pretty well) is I thought I had read all of Great Expectations but since there were things I know I didn’t read, I must have never finished it before. Or I read an abridged version the first time.
You’re interviewing for the post of Official Book Advisor to some VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why? (if you feel like you’d have to know the person, go ahead of personalise the VIP) I agree with Andi’s answer. The Great Gatsby would be a great one to start with.
A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with? French. I’ve always loved French and I could read Dumas and Hugo in their native tongue!
A mischievious fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick? The Princess Bride. I already reread it about every year anyway.
I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What’s one bookish thing you ‘discovered’ from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)? Graphic Novels.
That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free. Oh my goodness! Well, my Dream Library (cause really, that is important enough to be capitalized) who consist more of the environment I’d read in than the actual books, since I’d have all the good books ever written. It would have lots of open windows so I’d have natural light to read by. A nice, comfy, HUGE couch to curl up on, as well as a recliner to lounge in. It would be the perfect temperature – not too hot, not too cold. There would be a separate area for the kids to play and watch TV, so they would be near but quiet. My shelves would be oak and stretch from floor to ceiling and, like I said, would be full of the best books. Hardback, paperback, it doesn’t really matter to me. Although, they would have to be in good shape. No smelling of perfumes or cigarettes. Yuck!
And now, let’s say everyone has to tag four people. I tag…
Bookfool
Les in NE
CdnReader
Ashleigh
Have fun!!
Excellent answers! Brava!
Oh, and I put your package in the mail this morning. Heart-Shaped Box is winging its way to you as we speak.
What perfect company to take on your cruise! I want to come along too, please!
The Princess Bride is a wonderful novel. I really enjoyed that one too.
James Joyce is one of those authors that just terrify me. I think I read the first two pages of Ulysses in high school, and I doubt I'll ever pick it up again. Not my kind of writer!
I really need to read The Princess Bride; I've seen the movie, but I didn't exactly love it (I think I had heard so much about it that my hopes were too high).
Thanks Andish! And thanks for the tag.
And YAY!!! I'm SO excited! The hubby is going to have a cow though, with all the books suddenly bombarding the house!
Sure Lit! The more the merrier! And TPB has to be my favorite book. Anytime someone asks what is my fave book, it is always the first one that comes to mind.
Eva, normally I would tell you that TPB is way better than the movie and my favorite book, but I don't want to hype it for you! I will say that it is different from the movie. The basic story is the same, but they left out SO many things. But yeah, I would say it's not the book for everyone. I think it may take an odd sense of humor to really, really love it.
Ha! re: the hubby freaking out. I've been slowly sneaking all my new, free finds from the English department book cart into the house when B. isn't home.
Well, if it's more complicated than the movie I'll probably enjoy it! That was one of my main issues anyway.
Oh, thanks for tagging me! I'd already sort of tagged myself, but I'll add that you tagged me, later.
I didn't even think of Ulysses — perfect choice for death by novel.
Definitely sounds like a cruise I'd like to join.
Dumas in French — didn't think of that, but there's a good reason to learn to at least read French.
It is so funny how much we all love books and yet how different we can be in our tastes. I've seen Great Gatsby on someone's dying of boredom answer for this meme.
Yay for The Princess Bride! Too bad you sent Crow Lake off to a moocher. It truly is a fabulous book. I've read it two times! Thanks for the tag. I'll get to it. Really. I promise.
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Thanks for tagging me, Heather. My answers are here: http://betweenplace.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/a-re….